NCSC begins recommending use of passkeys
Passkeys may provide stronger protection than traditional 2SV The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) announced at CYBERUK 2026 in Glasgow that it will begin recommending the use of passkeys wherever a service supports them, and two-step verification (2SV) where it does not. A passkey is a way to sign in that does not use a […]
FSB Updates Guidance on Employers’ Liability Insurance
Help in checking your insurance arrangements The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has recently updated its guidance on Employers’ Liability insurance – a useful reminder of the rules and risks around a business insurance that is legally required in the UK. The guidance explains that if you employ anyone – including part-time, temporary, or even […]
How to Protect Sensitive Personal Information
New guidance published by NCSC The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has published new guidance to help businesses identify and protect against the risks of holding sensitive personal information. The guidance can help you to understand what sensitive personal information is and identify any that your business holds. It also provides some principles that, if […]
Chancellor Releases 2025 Spending Review
Takeaway Points for Your Business The Chancellor unveiled her Spending Review in June setting out how government departments will allocate money over the coming years. While much of the focus was on large-scale public services like the NHS and schools, there are some important signals here for businesses to take note of – both in […]
Government Targets £7.5 Billion in Unpaid Tax
Focus on Business Compliance The government has announced plans to raise an additional £7.5 billion by stepping up efforts to close the tax gap – the difference between the tax HMRC expects to collect and what is actually paid. Figures published on 19 June show that £46.8 billion in tax went unpaid in the 2023-24 […]
No Change for the Bank of England Base Rate
Inflation Still a Concern The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decided to keep the Bank of England base rate at 4.25% following its latest review on 19 June 2025. Their decision was not a great surprise. While inflation had reduced in the earlier part of the year, the current figures show that inflationary pressures continue to […]
Be wary of Self Assessment scams
Scam attempts on the increase HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have issued a reminder to be careful about scam attempts that target people filing Self Assessment tax returns. In the last year, nearly 150,000 scam attempts were referred to HMRC, a 16.7% increase on last year. With the 31 January 2025 filing deadline approaching, fraudsters […]
Navigating GDPR
The General Data Protection Regulation impacts business worldwide. GDPR mandates stringent requirements governing the processing of personal data, emphasising transparency, accountability, and individuals’ rights. Businesses must grasp the fundamental principles and obligations outlined by GDPR to align their practices accordingly. Conducting a Data Audit A critical first step for businesses is conducting a comprehensive data […]
Dealing with a cyber-attack
Most businesses have exposure to cyber risk Almost every modern business relies on computer networks for day-to-day operations, and this means that most firms are exposed to cyber risk. A cyber-attack is any attempt to steal data, damage or disrupt a computer system. In the event of a cyber-attack, it’s important to manage the incident […]
Global mega trends to navigate this year
The world is constantly evolving, and this creates opportunities and challenges. Some of the key trends that businesses will have to navigate this year include economic volatility, the continued importance of environmental sustainability, geopolitical uncertainty and AI moving into the mainstream. Economic volatility will remain a risk in 2024. The higher interest rate environment will […]